An optical film, a polarizing plate including the same, and a liquid crystal display including the same are provided. The optical film includes a protective layer and a contrast improving layer, wherein the contrast improving layer includes a second resin layer that is stacked from the protective layer, and a first resin layer facing the second resin layer.

Dyes of formula (1) ##STR00001##
their production and their use are described.

A compound represented by formula (I): and a treated filler having the compound on at least a portion of its surface. R is hydrogen or alkyl. X is alkylene, arylalkylene, or alkylarylene, each optionally interrupted by at least one of an ether, thioether, amine, amide, ester, thioester, carbonate, thiocarbonate, carbamate, thiocarbamate, urea, or thiourea, with alkylene optionally interrupted by arylene. W is hydroxyl, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group, carboxylic acid group, NHR.sup.1, epoxy, or Si(Y).sub.x(Z).sub.3-x. Y is alkyl, aryl, arylalkylenyl, or alkylarylenyl. Z is halide, hydroxyl, alkoxy aryloxy, acyloxy, polyalkyleneoxy, O covalently bonded to the surface of the filler, or O bonded to another silicon atom, and x is 0 or 1. A composition including the treated filler, a method of making the treated filler, and a method of determining the degree of cure of a curable polymeric resin are also disclosed. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a nanoparticle containing a hydrophobic fluorescent substance accumulated therein and a thermosetting resin as a matrix, which nanoparticle, when used for labeling of a biological substance such as a protein or nucleic acid, has brightness sufficient for allowing pathological diagnosis using a fluorescence image obtained thereby. The present invention is a phosphor integrated dots nanoparticles wherein a thermosetting resin contains a structural unit formed from a raw material containing a hydrophobic substituent, and wherein a fluorescent substance is accumulated in the nanoparticle at least by hydrophobic interaction, preferably further by stacking interaction, with the hydrophobic substituent of the thermosetting resin.

The present invention provides a nanoparticle containing a hydrophobic fluorescent substance accumulated therein and a thermosetting resin as a matrix, which nanoparticle, when used for labeling of a biological substance such as a protein or nucleic acid, has brightness sufficient for allowing pathological diagnosis using a fluorescence image obtained thereby. The present invention is a phosphor integrated dots nanoparticles wherein a thermosetting resin contains a structural unit formed from a raw material containing a hydrophobic substituent, and wherein a fluorescent substance is accumulated in the nanoparticle at least by hydrophobic interaction, preferably further by stacking interaction, with the hydrophobic substituent of the thermosetting resin.

Provided are a dye compound, a composition comprising the dye compound, and a display device using the dye compound. The dye compound is represented by Formula 1.

##STR00001##

This invention relates to particles comprising a pigment core particle encapsulated by a polymer, a process for their preparation, electrophoretic fluids comprising such particles, and electrophoretic display devices comprising such fluids.

Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

The present invention relates to a monoazo-based dye for acid detection, which changes color upon addition of or exposure to acid and, more specifically, to a dye which changes color within a few seconds upon exposure to a trace amount of a strong acidic material, and a fiber product using the same. The monoazo-based dye for acid detection according to the present invention has an effect of reacting with a trace amount of strong acid to change color, and returning to the original color when the acid is removed. Also, a fiber dyed with the dye of the present invention exhibits high color fastness and thus is not discolored and faded by laundering or sunlight. In addition, there is an effect of preventing secondary contamination at an accident scene and serious accidents from harmful environmental factors, when protective or working clothes are manufactured applying the effect, thereby providing a function enabling workers to recognize an exposure to acid in real time in the case of an exposure to an acid-contaminated environment.

Azo-azomethine dyes, a dichroic dye mixture including azo-azomethine dyes, a liquid crystal composition with the azo-azomethine dyes, and methods for producing the dyes and dye compositions. The dyes can be used in liquid crystal systems, transmissive displays, and smart windows. ##STR00001##